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PA’s Downtown: The best place to shop for that unique gift this Christmas

Nov 18, 2015 | 12:41 PM

Prince Albert’s Downtown should be your first stop while shopping this Christmas.

Whatever it is that you are looking for this holiday season you can find it downtown. The downtown is the heart and soul of the city and it is home to a variety of unique shops that can’t be found anywhere else.

“It is a great place to shop. We have one-of-kind gift shops that have that unique gift that you can’t find anywhere else.” said Lori Bourne, event co-ordinator for the Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District (PADBID)

“And it is a lot of family oriented business too,” added Bob Gill, Main Street co-ordinator and executive director for PADBID. “All of the small downtown business really strive for that customer satisfaction.” Gill and Bourne are passionate about Prince Albert’s Downtown and they encourage residents and visitors to make the downtown their shopping destination.

“We have over 300 businesses downtown, some of which are retail stores with something for virtually everybody, so it’s just a matter of checking it out and seeing what they have to offer,” said Gill.

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“This is a destination. You come here to do your shopping, dining, and playing. There is just so much to do downtown,” said Bourne.

Now that the Christmas season has begun, PADBID is prepping for the annual Countdown to Christmas. This is the third year that participating downtown businesses will have the opportunity to show off their Christmas spirit by making a Christmas inspired window display for their business during the month of December. On organized days a new business will unveil their creation beginning Dec. 1 and that countdown will continue until Dec. 17.

Late night shopping on Thursday nights is also something shoppers can look forward to this Christmas. Several of the downtown businesses will be open late on Dec. 3, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. On Dec. 17 visitors to the downtown that evening can also stop by the PADBID office located at 1105 Central Avenue to enjoy some hot chocolate and listen to carollers.

Main Street Saskatchewan Demonstration Project

Visitors to Prince Albert’s Downtown have probably noticed the improvements that have been made to a number of the buildings that are located there. This is thanks to funding provided through the Main Street Saskatchewan Demonstration Program which is an initiative that began in 2011. Various businesses including the PA Outreach Centre, Funky Fresh Bistro, Kenlar Building, RNF Ventures, Abrametz Law Office, Old Bank of Montreal and PADBID have invested in their buildings to ensure Prince Albert’s Downtown will remain bright. Restoring historic features in downtown is the main focus for the $375,000 that was provided through the three year Main Street Program by the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport.

Message from the Mayor

Mayor Greg Dionne said it has been a pleasure to witness some of the revitalization occurring in Prince Albert’s Downtown.

“We have lots of history downtown and that’s why I really like the Main Street Demonstration Program because there is history in some of those older buildings,” said Dionne. “Even though some people think we should demolish them, we need a piece of history too, we can’t demolish everything and we need to save history so we can say to our children and our grandchildren see the old design they call that European, they call that continental they call that French, so I do believe you have to have a variety.”

Dionne encourages residents and visitors to Prince Albert to take advantage of the downtown this Christmas season.

“There are little unique boutiques, we have a top of the line jewellery store, we have food, it’s quite a variety, we have all kinds of stores on Central Avenue to shop in,” said Dionne.

“There is lots unique business and I just encourage people who are downtown to go have a look.”

Message from MLA Victoria Jurgens

MLA Victoria Jurgens encourages visitors to Prince Albert to check out the downtown. She said the Main Street Demonstration Project helped to renovate, restore, and reinvigorate historical buildings in the city’s core.

“This in turn helped to create a quiet pride and confidence in our city’s centre,” she said.

Prince Albert’s downtown is rich with heritage buildings and history and visitors to the area will not be disappointed.

“Central Avenue is quite possibly the oldest main street in all of Saskatchewan,” said Jurgens. “I think downtown Prince Albert’s eclectic mix of businesses complete with daycares, small and large convention centres, churches, library, art gallery, post-secondary institutions, and museum – to name just a few – creates an interesting and dynamic place to visit, shop and gather.”

Jurgen’s agrees that Prince Albert’s Downtown is a great place to find treasures, unique products and creative restaurants this holiday season. She said it has some of the best personalized service and engaged entrepreneurs in the city.